When French colleagues or partners share sensitive information with you, they expect you to protect it. This goes beyond formal confidentiality agreements—it is a social and relational expectation. Information shared in confidence remains your responsibility; passing it along, even casually, is a serious breach of trust.
This applies to professional matters, personal matters, and everything in between. The weight of this expectation sometimes makes French colleagues cautious about sharing in the first place—knowing something means bearing responsibility for protecting it.
When you receive information marked as confidential, treat that designation seriously. Your handling of past confidences determines whether you receive future ones.
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